---
title: Does acupuncture treat premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora
description: Evidence for acupuncture treating PMS is limited and understudied. Most evidence focuses on period pain and menopause, but all evidence has quality problems.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/acupuncture-to-treat-common-reproductive-health-complaints-an-overview-of-the-2010/
---

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- Does acupuncture treat premenstrual syndrome?

Systematic review, 2010

# Does acupuncture treat premenstrual syndrome?

Evidence for acupuncture treating PMS is limited and understudied. Most evidence focuses on period pain and menopause, but all evidence has quality problems.

 Strong study design

Women with reproductive health complaints (review of published trials)

## What they did

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Searched PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library from inception to September 2009. Extracted data from 5 systematic reviews and 6 randomized controlled trials. Two authors reviewed each for quality.

## What they found

Period pain and menopause symptoms received more clinical research than other reproductive complaints. However, evidence for acupuncture treating period pain and menopause remains unclear due to small study populations and methodological problems. Acupuncture for PMS and other menstrual symptoms is understudied, with evidence often from single studies.

## What it means for you

There is not enough good evidence to know if acupuncture works for PMS. The studies have been small and have design problems. Much more rigorous research is needed before concluding acupuncture helps PMS.

5

systematic reviews reviewed

6

randomized controlled trials reviewed

## About the study

Original title Acupuncture to treat common reproductive health complaints: An overview of the evidence Authors Smith CA, Carmady B Journal Autonomic neuroscience : basic & clinical Year 2010 Study design Systematic review What was tested Acupuncture Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2010.03.013](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2010.03.013)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Acupuncture and acupressure](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-acupuncture/)[Perimenopause and menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-perimenopause/)[Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-pcos/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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